RBS Six Nations: Fear and loathing as England prepare for Grand Slam showdown

Stade Francais flanker James Haskell is relishing Saturday's Irish showdown as England try and complete the Six Nations Grand Slam.

"There's going to be nerves, there's going to be fear but there's going to be excitement too, and it's all about getting that balance right," said the versatile back-rower.

Haskell has been one of the standout performers in England's so-far unbeaten campaign - along with club colleague Tom Palmer - but said there was still room for massive improvement - both personally and as a team.

The 25-year-old has grabbed the opportunity provided by Tom Moody's injury-enforced absence, and was Man-of-the-Match in England's gritty victory against Scotland last weekend.

But he knows that beating Ireland in Dublin is going to be another massive challenge, especially in the back row.

"Ireland perhaps compete at the breakdown in slightly different way [to Scotland]," he told RFU.com. "They like to hold players up in that tackle area and don't necessarily put people to the floor straightaway, so they get guys to the ball very quickly.

"They're pretty big, strong men, all of them. Sean O'Brien has come in and he's a guy who often breaks that first tackle and carries the ball. Everybody knows about Wallace and what he can bring, he has that ability to scavenge on the floor," said Haskell.

"If we learnt anything from playing them at Twickenham last year it is they won that breakdown battle, they caused us a lot of havoc and we weren't able to get into the structure we wanted to," added Haskell, who will be winning his 34th cap on Saturday.

The former Wasps star believes England have the experience to cope with the pressure as they go in search of a 13th Grand Slam, with fellow French exile Jonny Wilkinson recalling a similar challenge before the team went on to win the 2003 World Cup.

Then, as now, England went to Dublin looking to complete the Grand Slam, and on that occasion emerged 42-6 victors as they put in a team-defining display. Wilkinson, however, will start from the bench on Saturday as he continues in his new role as super (experienced) sub.

"I'll never forget that match in Dublin - it was a big day," recalled the Toulon fly-half. "We got off to a good start and managed to keep the pedal down, a strategy that will stand us in good stead again this year. You're rarely in that position against a team like Ireland. It was the culmination of lessons learnt and lots of desire," he added.

England have been forced to re-jig their back line after an ankle injury to captain Mike Tindall. Head coach Martin Johnson admitted Tindall's absence was "a big blow for us" but said his replacement Matt Banahan had been in cracking form during the week.

The towering winger comes in at No 13, with Johnson giving the Bath giant his unreserved backing. "He's been very good and hopefully it will be a pretty smooth transition," added the England manager.

Banahan's promotion to the starting XV means David Strettle comes on the bench, with Johnson naming number eight Nick Easter as skipper for the Ireland clash.

Ireland will be hoping to spoil the English party, and recent form is on their side with the Irish having won six of their seven Championship matches against England since that 42-6 reverse. Last season they won 20-16 at Twickenham, while there was just one point between the two sides in Dublin in 2009.

Andrew Trimble has been named on the left wing for his first start in this season's Championship, while veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara has been dropped to the bench in preference for Jonathan Sexton.

Ireland's Paul O'Connell admitted he has "massive respect" for England, and especially for their coach and former captain Johnson. O'Connell came on as a sub when England won 42-6 in Dublin eight years ago, one of the few times he went directly up against Johnson as a player.

"When he was captain what he stood for was all about physicality and never being intimidated. All the basics, such as set-piece excellence and mauling, were there when he was playing for England. They were his strength and I see a lot of that in the England team now - all the ingredients that make a successful team," said the Munster lock.

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Saturday March 19th
Kick-Off: 17.00
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)